8 April 2011: The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) have released a publication titled “Guide to Corporate Ecosystem Valuation: A framework for improving corporate decision-making.” The Guide aims to enhance business’ understanding of the benefits and value of ecosystem services.

The Guide to Corporate Ecosystem Valuation (CEV) was developed through an 18-month process of close collaboration with four partner organizations – IUCN, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and IUCN member World Resources Institute (WRI) – as well as businesses.

The Guide explains how firms should examine issues such as: environmental risks in transportation, stakeholder compensation options, potential revenue opportunities in emerging environmental markets, and the impact of regulatory changes on the availability of natural resources.

According to IUCN, the Guide complements the study on “The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity” (TEEB), which urges companies to support sustainable use and management of biodiversity as an integral part of their business plans. [Publication: Guide to Corporate Ecosystem Valuation] [IUCN News Release]